BILL NUMBER: SB 350	CHAPTERED  10/10/99

	CHAPTER   791
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   OCTOBER 7, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   SEPTEMBER 10, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 8, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 7, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Murray

                        FEBRUARY 10, 1999

   An act to amend Sections 6020, 6022, 6023, 6041, 6042, 6081, 6084,
6086, 6101, 6122, 6160, 6201, 6202, 6203, 6204, and 7441 of, and to
repeal Section 6221 of, the Elections Code, relating to elections,
and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 350, Murray.  Presidential primary delegates and alternates.
   Existing law required delegates and alternates for the Democratic
presidential primary in 1992 to be selected by caucuses at specified
times and dates and in a specified manner, in coordination with the
presidential primary.
   Existing law directs that the presidential primary be held on the
first Tuesday in March in any year evenly divisible by the number 4,
including, for example, the year 2000.
   This bill would require that delegates and alternates for the
Democratic presidential preference primary be selected by caucuses in
specified numbers and at specified times and dates and in a
specified manner, in coordination with the date established for the
presidential primary.  The bill would establish Tuesday, March 7,
2000, as the date for the next presidential preference primary.
   Under existing law, the Secretary of State is required to issue a
certification of delegate to each person selected as a delegate or an
alternate delegate to the Democratic Party National Convention.  The
delegates certified are required to be the final delegates as filed
and determined by the official canvass.
   This bill would repeal those provisions.
   Under existing provisions of law relating to the selection of
officers of the state Republican Party, at the party's first
organizational meeting, a committee is required to organize by
selecting a chairperson, a secretary, and any other officers and
committees as it deems necessary for carrying on the affairs of this
party.  After each election, an organizational or reorganizational
meeting is required to take place within 30 days after new county
central committee members receive certificates of election.
   This bill would revise these procedures with respect to the
Central Committee of the County of Orange to require its members to
assume office and hold an organizational meeting on the first Monday
in December of each even-numbered year.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 6020 of the Elections Code is amended to read:

   6020.  (a) The Chairperson of the Democratic State Central
Committee shall notify the Secretary of State on or before the 120th
day preceding the presidential primary as to the number of delegates
and alternates to represent the state in the next national convention
of the Democratic Party.
   (b) The chairperson shall also notify the Secretary of State at
the time prescribed in subdivision (a) as to the number of delegates
that may be selected from each congressional district in connection
with the presidential primary.  The number of delegates that may be
selected from each congressional district shall be based on a formula
that apportions 75 percent of the state's base delegation allocated
by the Democratic National Committee, among the congressional
districts in a manner that gives equal weight to the vote for the
Democratic candidates in the most recent presidential and
gubernatorial elections.
   The number of delegates allocated to each congressional district
shall be rounded off to the nearest whole integer.  The remaining
delegates and alternates shall be selected pursuant to Article 11
(commencing with Section 6200).
   (c) Delegates and alternate delegates apportioned to each
congressional district shall be selected based on the proportion of
the vote a presidential candidate or uncommitted delegation receives
within the congressional district pursuant to Section 6200.
  SEC. 2.  Section 6022 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6022.  The proportions of alternate delegates elected at the
district level, at-large, and as unpledged and pledged add-on party
and elected officials alternates shall be the same as the proportions
of delegates elected in those categories.
   Members of Congress serving as unpledged delegates shall not be
entitled to name a replacement.
  SEC. 3.  Section 6023 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6023.  The notification of the number of delegates and alternate
delegates shall be in substantially the following form:
      Statement of Number of Delegates and Alternate Delegates to
Democratic National Convention and of Number of Delegates and
Alternate Delegates to Be Selected from Congressional Districts
    To the Secretary of State
   Sacramento, California

   You are hereby notified that the number of delegates and alternate
delegates to represent the State of California in the next national
convention of the Democratic Party is ____.
   You are hereby notified that the number of delegates which may be
selected from all congressional districts as a part of the delegation
to the national convention of the Democratic Party is as follows:

   Congressional District No. 1. __ delegates __ alternates.
   Congressional District No. 2. __ delegates __ alternates.
   Congressional District No. 3. __ delegates __ alternates.
   (Followed by the remaining congressional districts).

   You are hereby notified that the number of pledged party and
elected official delegates, at-large delegates, and at-large
alternate delegates is as follows:
   Unpledged Party Leaders and Elected Officials ___
   Unpledged Add-on Delegates ____
   Pledged Party and Elected Official Delegates ____
   At-large Delegates ________________
   At-large Alternate Delegates ___________
   Dated this ____ day of ____, 19_.


                    _______________________________________________
                     Chairperson of the State Central Committee of
                                 the Democratic Party.

  SEC. 4.  Section 6041 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6041.  The Secretary of State shall place the name of a candidate
upon the presidential primary ballot when he or she has determined
that the candidate is generally advocated for or recognized
throughout the United States or California as actively seeking the
nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United
States.  The Secretary of State shall include as criteria for
selecting candidates the fact of qualifying for funding under the
Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1974, as amended.
   Between the 150th day and the 63rd day preceding a presidential
primary election, the Secretary of State shall publicly announce and
distribute to the news media for publication a list of the selected
candidates that he or she intends to place on the ballot at the
following presidential primary election. After the 63rd day preceding
a presidential primary election, the Secretary of State may add
candidates to the selection, but he or she may not delete any
presidential candidate whose name appears on the announced list
except as provided in Section 6043.
  SEC. 5.  Section 6042 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6042.  When the Secretary of State decides to place the name of a
candidate on the ballot pursuant to Section 6041, he or she shall
notify the candidate that the candidate's name will appear on the
ballot of this state in the presidential primary election.
   The secretary shall also notify the candidate that the candidate
may withdraw his or her name from the list of recognized candidates
by filing with the Secretary of State an affidavit pursuant to
Section 6043 no later than the 60th day before the presidential
primary election.
  SEC. 6.  Section 6081 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6081.  The chairperson of a steering committee, at least 82 days
prior to the presidential primary, shall file with the Secretary of
State a statement containing the names and addresses of the members
of the steering committee.
  SEC. 7.  Section 6084 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6084.  On or before the 56th day preceding the presidential
primary, the Democratic State Central Committee shall transmit to the
steering committee of each presidential candidate and uncommitted
delegation a list of all persons who have filed a declaration of
candidacy for delegate pledged to that presidential candidate or
uncommitted delegation.
  SEC. 8.  Section 6086 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6086.  On the 44th day preceding the presidential primary
election, at 3 p.m., the caucus chairperson in each congressional
district shall convene a caucus for the purpose of electing potential
delegates and alternate delegates.  The steering committee of each
candidate or uncommitted delegation shall have sole authority to
establish rules and procedures, including the naming of caucus
chairpersons, by which the caucuses of that candidate or uncommitted
delegation shall be conducted.  The rules and procedures shall be
uniform statewide, and in compliance with the Democratic State
Central Committee's delegate selection and affirmative action plan.
Each caucus shall elect a slate of delegate nominees in each
congressional district pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section
6020), ranked in the manner specified by this section.  The slate
shall be transmitted to the steering committee of each candidate and
uncommitted delegation.
   Each participant at each caucus shall reside in, and be a
registered Democrat of, the congressional district of the caucus he
or she attends and each shall sign a statement of support for that
presidential candidate or uncommitted delegation.  Within five days
after the convening of the caucus, the steering committee of each
candidate or uncommitted delegation shall rank the delegate
candidates from the slate of delegate candidates provided by each
caucus pursuant to procedures in compliance with the Democratic State
Central Committee's delegate selection and affirmative action plan.
  Immediately thereafter, the chairperson of a steering committee
shall file with the Secretary of State a statement containing the
names of delegate candidates in ranked order from each congressional
district.  In all cases, the slate for each congressional district
shall be equal to the number of delegates and alternate delegates
allotted to each congressional district pursuant to Section 6023.
  SEC. 9.  Section 6101 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6101.  Nomination papers to be circulated pursuant to Section 6061
shall be prepared, circulated, signed, and verified and shall be
left for examination with the county elections official of the county
in which they are circulated at least 63 days prior to the
presidential primary election.
  SEC. 10.  Section 6122 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6122.  Circulators may obtain signatures to the nomination paper
for which they were appointed at any time between the period of 120
days and 63 days, inclusive, prior to the presidential primary
election.
  SEC. 11.  Section 6160 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6160.  At least 60 days before a presidential primary, the
Secretary of State shall notify each steering committee whether or
not it has qualified a candidate or uncommitted delegation for
placement on the ballot pursuant to Section 6060.
  SEC. 12.  Section 6201 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6201.  (a) District level delegate positions shall be allocated to
presidential preferences through a primary proportional
representation system.
   (b) The 239 district-level delegates and 40 alternates shall be
elected by preprimary caucuses to slate delegates followed by a
presidential preference primary.
   (1) The preprimary caucuses shall be conducted on Sunday, January
23, 2000, at 3 p.m.
   (2) The presidential preference primary shall be conducted on
Tuesday, March 7, 2000.
   (c) The 239 delegates and 40 alternates shall be apportioned to
districts as follows:


___________________________________________________________________
'District '            Delegates     '         Alternates          '
'         '__________________________'_____________________________'
'         ' Females '  Males ' Total ' Females '  Males  '  Total  '
'________ '_________'_______ '______ '________ '________ '________ '
'   #1    '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #2    '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #3    '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #4    '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #5    '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #6    '       3 '      3 '     6 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #7    '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #8    '       3 '      3 '     6 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #9    '       3 '      3 '     6 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #10   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #11   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #12   '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #13   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #14   '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #15   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #16   '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #17   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #18   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #19   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #20   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #21   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #22   '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #23   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #24   '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #25   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #26   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #27   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #28   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #29   '       3 '      3 '     6 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #30   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #31   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #32   '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #33   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #34   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #35   '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #36   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #37   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #38   '       2 '      3 '     5 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #39   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #40   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #41   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #42   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #43   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #44   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #45   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #46   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #47   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #48   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       0 '       0 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #49   '       3 '      2 '     5 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #50   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'
'   #51   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       1 '       0 '       1 '
'________ '_________'_______ '_______'_________'_________'_________'
'   #52   '       2 '      2 '     4 '       0 '       1 '       1 '
'_________'_________'________'_______'_________'________ '_________'

   This apportionment shall be based on a formula giving equal weight
to the vote for the Democratic candidates in the most recent
presidential and gubernatorial elections.
   (d) (1) An individual may qualify as a candidate for
district-level delegate or alternate to the 2000 Democratic National
Convention by filing a statement of candidacy and pledge of support
with the state chair at the party office at 911 20th Street,
Sacramento, California 95814.  Statements can be requested from the
state party beginning Tuesday, November 9, 1999.  Candidacy
statements can be returned beginning Tuesday, December 14, 1999, and
must be received by the party office no later than 5 p.m., Thursday,
January 6, 2000.
   (2) All delegate candidates shall be identified as to presidential
preference, uncommitted or unpledged status at all levels which
determine presidential preference.
   (e) The California primary election is a "binding" primary.
Accordingly, delegate and alternate positions shall be allocated so
as to fairly reflect the expressed presidential or uncommitted status
of the primary voters in each district.  Therefore, the national
convention delegates elected at the district level shall be allocated
in proportion to the percentage of the primary vote won in that
district by each preference, except that preferences falling below a
15 percent threshold shall not be awarded any delegates or
alternates.
   (f) If no presidential preference reaches a 15 percent threshold,
the threshold shall be the percentage of the vote received at each
level of the delegate selection process by the front-runner minus 10
percent.
   (g) Presidential candidates shall certify their authorized
representatives to the state party chair no later than 5 p.m.,
December 16, 1999.  The state party chair shall convey to the
presidential candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative
or representatives, not later than Tuesday, January 11, 2000, at 5
p.m., a list of all persons who have filed for delegate or alternate
pledged to that presidential candidate.  Each presidential candidate,
or that candidate's authorized representative or representatives,
shall file with the state party chair by Tuesday, January 18, 2000,
at 5 p.m., a list of all the candidates he or she has approved,
provided that approval is given to at least three times the number of
candidates for delegate and three times the number of candidates for
alternates to be selected.  Failure to respond shall be deemed
approval of all delegate and alternate candidates submitted to the
presidential candidate unless the presidential candidate, or the
candidate's authorized representative or representatives, signifies
otherwise in writing to the state party chair no later than Tuesday,
January 18, 2000, at 5 p.m.
   (h) On Sunday, January 23, 2000, candidate and uncommitted
caucuses shall be held to elect a slate of potential delegates equal
to at least the number of delegates plus alternates allocated to the
congressional district. The California delegation shall be equally
divided between delegate men and delegate women, and alternate men
and alternate women.  These goals apply to the California delegation
as a whole.  Delegates and alternates shall be considered separate
groups for purposes of achieving equal division.
   Provisions for achieving equal division at the district level
shall be as follows:  Each candidate and uncommitted caucus shall
elect a slate of potential delegates equal to at least the number of
delegates plus alternates allocated to that congressional district.
Potential delegates shall be ranked pursuant to procedures in
compliance with the Democratic State Central Committee's delegate
selection and affirmative action plan.  Following the primary,
delegate and alternate positions allocated to a presidential
candidate or uncommitted delegation shall be filled from the list of
ranked potential delegates in the order in which they are ranked.
   (i) The State Democratic Chair shall certify in writing to the
Secretary of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) the election of
the state's district level delegates and alternates to the Democratic
National Convention within three days after their election.
  SEC. 13.  Section 6202 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6202.  (a) The following individuals shall constitute the
unpledged delegate positions:
   (1) Members of the DNC who legally reside in the state.
   (2) The Governor if he or she is a Democrat.
   (3) All Democratic Members of Congress who legally reside in the
state.
   (4) All "distinguished party leader" delegates who legally reside
in the state.
   (5) Five add-on delegates.
   (b) The procedures to be used in selecting the five add-on
unpledged delegates shall be as follows:
   (1) The add-on delegates shall be nominated by the state party
chair and elected at the meeting of district level delegates on
Saturday, April 8, 2000. These delegates shall be selected after the
election of district-level delegates and alternates, and prior to the
selection of the pledged party and elected official delegates.
   (2) The equal division and affirmative action provisions of Rule
9A of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2000 Democratic National
Convention apply to the selection of these add-on unpledged
delegates.
   (3) The list from which the selecting body chooses the add-on
unpledged delegates shall, at a minimum, contain two names for every
unpledged add-on position to be filled.
   (c) The process for certification of the unpledged party leader
and elected official delegates is as follows:
   (1) Not later than March 1, 2000, the Secretary of the Democratic
National Committee shall officially confirm to the State Democratic
Chair the names of the unpledged delegates who legally reside in
California.
   (2) Official confirmation by the Secretary shall constitute
verification of the unpledged delegates from the categories indicated
above.
   (3) Add-on unpledged delegates, selected pursuant to the Call for
the 2000 Democratic National Convention, shall be certified in
writing to the Secretary of the DNC within three days after their
selection.
  SEC. 14.  Section 6203 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6203.  (a) California is allotted 48 pledged party leader and
elected official delegates.
   (b) Individuals shall be eligible for the pledged party leader and
elected official delegate positions according to the following
priority:  big city mayors and statewide elected officials (to be
given equal consideration), state legislative leaders, state
legislators, and other state, county, and local elected officials and
party leaders.
   (c) These delegates shall be selected by a committee consisting of
all the district-level delegates.
   (d) Selection of these delegates shall occur on Sunday, April 9,
2000, at a site and time to be determined by the state party chair.
The selection of these delegates shall be after the election of
district delegates and alternates and the unpledged add-on delegates
and prior to the selection of at-large delegates and alternates.
   (e) An individual may qualify as a candidate for a position as a
pledged party leader and elected official delegate by filing a
statement of candidacy and pledge of support with the state party
chair that includes all the provisions included in the statement of
candidacy and pledge of support required of district-level
candidates.  An individual may or may not previously have filed a
statement of candidacy and still be eligible to file under this
category.  Statements shall be available at the state party beginning
December 28, 1999.  Statements shall be accepted beginning January
10, 2000, and ending March 9, 2000, at 5 p.m.
   (f) These pledged party leader and elected official slots shall be
allocated among presidential preferences on the same basis as the
at-large delegates.
   (g) Delegate candidates shall be identified as to presidential or
uncommitted status at the pledged party and elected official level.
If persons eligible for pledged party and elected official delegate
positions have not made known their presidential preference as
candidates for district level or at-large delegate positions, their
preference shall be ascertained through the aforementioned required
qualification statement.
   (h) The state party chair shall convey to the presidential
candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative or
representatives, not later than March 15, 2000, a list of all persons
who have filed for a party and elected official delegate pledged to
that presidential candidate.  Each presidential candidate, or that
candidate's authorized representative or representatives, shall then
file with the state party chair, by March 21, 2000, a list of all the
candidates he or she has approved, provided that approval is given
to at least two times the number of candidates for delegate to be
selected.  Failure to respond shall be deemed approval of all
delegate candidates submitted to the presidential candidate unless
the presidential candidate, or the candidate's authorized
representative or representatives, signifies otherwise in writing to
the state party chair no later than 5 p.m. on March 21, 2000.
   (i) Alternates are not selected at the pledged party leader and
elected official level.  These alternates are combined with the
at-large alternates and selected as one unit.
                                                     (j) The state
party chair shall certify in writing to the Secretary of the DNC the
election of the state's pledged party leader and elected official
delegates and alternates to the Democratic National Convention within
three days after their election.
  SEC. 15.  Section 6204 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   6204.  (a) The State of California is allotted 80 at-large
delegates and 21 at-large alternates.
   (b) These delegates and alternates shall be selected by a
committee consisting of all the district-level delegates on Sunday,
April 9, 2000.  The selection shall occur after all unpledged
delegates and pledged party leader and elected official delegates
have been selected.
   (c) At-large delegate and alternate positions shall be allocated
among presidential preferences according to the statewide primary
vote.  Preferences which have not attained a 15 percent threshold on
a statewide basis shall not be entitled to any at-large delegates.
   If a given presidential preference is entitled to one or more
delegate positions but would not otherwise be entitled to an
alternate position, that preference shall be allotted one at-large
alternate position.
   (d) In the selection of the at-large delegation, priority of
consideration shall be given to African Americans, Hispanics, Native
Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, lesbian women, gay men, the
disabled, and women.  The election of at-large delegates and
alternates shall be used, if necessary, to achieve the equal division
of positions between men and women, and may be used to achieve the
representation goals established in the affirmative action section of
this plan.  Delegates and alternates are to be considered separate
groups for this purpose.
   (e) Persons desiring to seek these at-large delegate or alternate
positions may file a statement of candidacy designating their
presidential or uncommitted preference and a signed pledge of support
for the presidential candidates (including uncommitted status) with
the state party by 5 p.m., March 21, 2000.  The state party chair
shall convey to the presidential candidate, or that candidate's
authorized representative or representatives, not later than March
28, 2000, a list of all persons who have filed for delegate or
alternate pledged to that presidential candidate.  Each presidential
candidate, or that candidate's authorized representative or
representatives, at the meeting of the district-level delegates on
April 9, 2000, must provide to the State Democratic Chair, within 30
minutes after the pledged party leaders and elected officials have
been selected by the committee of district-level delegates, a list of
all the candidates he or she has approved, provided that, at a
minimum, two names remain for every national convention delegate or
alternate position to which the presidential candidate is entitled.
   (f) The statement of candidacy for at-large delegates and for
at-large alternates shall be the same.  After the at-large delegates
are elected by the district level delegates, those persons not chosen
shall then be considered candidates for at-large alternate positions
unless they specify otherwise when filing.
   (g) If a presidential candidate is no longer a candidate at the
time of selection of the at-large delegates, those at-large slots
that would have been allocated to the candidate shall be
proportionally divided among the remaining preferences entitled to an
allocation.
   (h) The state party chair shall certify in writing to the
Secretary of the DNC the election of the state's at-large delegates
and alternates to the Democratic National Convention within three
days after their election.
  SEC. 16.  Section 6221 of the Elections Code is repealed.
  SEC. 17.  Section 7441 of the Elections Code is amended to read:
   7441.  At the first organizational meeting, a committee shall
organize by selecting a chairperson, a secretary, and any other
officers and committees as it deems necessary for carrying on the
affairs of this party.
   (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), after each election, an
organizational or reorganizational meeting shall take place within
30 days after new county central committee members receive
certificates of election.
   (b) Members of the Central Committee of the County of Orange shall
assume office and hold an organizational meeting on the first Monday
in December of each even-numbered year.
  SEC. 18.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within
the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into
immediate effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order that this bill may take effect as soon as possible in
order to facilitate preparation for the March 7, 2000, state primary
election, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.
